You're absolutely right; that is, many people here have set themselves up as experts and yet provide incorrect information and sweeping statements that don't stand up to careful scrutiny. As for the question of TA's, I've been teaching here for five years and have never had a TA.. This year I was provided a student helper for purposes of grading papers or for just about any task I'd like to assign to her, but I see that as more of a courtesy than anything and so far haven't asked for her help in any way.

In many cases, TA's, at some colleges or training centers are provided for inexperienced teachers simply because the leaders recognize that said teachers may need assistance in the classroom. In other cases TA's are there simply because the leaders want them to observe Western teaching methods. There is also the fact that some leaders consider that students will feel more comfortable with a Chinese teacher in the classroom until they are more familiar with the FT.